Implosion Of Sugar Factory In Eaton Doesn’t Go As Planned

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EATON, Colo. (CBS4) – A century-old building in Eaton went up in smoke Sunday morning — well, most of it anyway.

The former home of the Great Western Sugar Factory is coming down to make way for a new railway facility. Hundreds turned out to watch the demolition, but not everything went according to plan.

“It’s probably about time … it’s been an eyesore. I go by it every day probably four or five times and I always sit there thinking, ‘What a waste.’ It’s just sitting there doing nothing,” resident Steve Doerschlag said.

The building dates back to 1902 and employed a number of people in the town before it was eventually shut down.

“I had some friends in high school that their folks worked here,” resident Dave Schledwitz said. “My best friend’s dad was the beet informant when we were in high school.”

“If you had a job here during the depression you were something real special,” former employee Wayne Pickens said.

As the crowd gathered they watched part of their town’s history come down, including the nearby water and smoke towers.

“No, I don’t think it went as planned,” witness Ashley Declet said. “When only the middle of the building went down, I don’t think it went as planned.”

The entire building was supposed to come down, but now parts of it are left standing with the water tower now on top of it.

“It’s not going to be used again. Put her in the landfill I guess,” witness Steve Jaouen said.

Once the demolition is officially complete the plan is to turn the area into a railway trans-load facility.

It’s not clear what the town will do to finish the demolition of the building.